The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

Page 2 Thursday, April 16, 1998 The Westfield Leader The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

Union County Freeholder Board Unveils 1998 Budget; Overall Tax Rate Reduced for Second Straight Year

By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders last week introduced a county budget which for the second consecutive year reduces the overall county tax rate.

The Freeholder Finance Committee, chaired by Linda d. Stender of Fanwood, slashed the spending plan presented to them by County Manager Michael J. Lapolla by $1.5 million.

The overall tax levy was reduced from .48725 cents in 1997 per $100 of assessed valuation to .47585 cents this year. This equals a 1 percent decline in the county tax rate. The Executive Budget had contained a flat tax levy over 1997.

According to figures released by the county's Public Information Department, the total amount to be raised through local property taxes is down $334,606 — from $14,711,656 to $14,377,050 — in Westfield, and $211,501 in Scotch Plains — from $8,738,691 to $8,527,460.

The amount to be raised in taxes, however, will rise in Mountainside — from $3,849,955 to $4,120,405 — a difference of $270,450. In Fanwood, a total of $2,422,879 will be collected to support the county, an increase of $79,504 over 1997.

Freeholder Stender described the county spending plan as "our vision statement for the year."

She said the board's goals were to maintain essential services while furthering the county's efforts on economic development — something the Democratically- controlled board has made a priority since the creation of a county Economic Development Department last year.

This year's budget funds an Economic Development Office "with an emphasis on attracting new businesses, new jobs and new tax dollars," according to a press release issued by the board.

Freeholder Stender noted that this year's $150.24 million tax levy is the lowest since 1994, when the figure was $148.13 million under a Republican controlled board.

Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan of Elizabeth noted that the spending plan does not fund any additional employee positions over 1997.

"That needs to be said, that needs to be known," he stated.

He said the reduction in the tax levy is "a marvelous accomplishment," noting that many municipalities and school boards are, themselves, struggling with their own budgets in an effort to keep property taxes under control.

Thus, he said the county's effort the past two years has helped make the burden of taxes on towns in Union County "a little easier for them."

The Freeholder Chairman explained that taxes to support county government will be going down in 15 of the county's 21 municipalities.

Mr. Lapolla, a resident of Westfield, noted that the budget hearings conducted by the Finance Committee were a "fair process." He acknowledged the efforts of department heads, noting that they gave him and the Freeholder board "the tools to get the job done.

"I think this budget is extremely fair to county government," he added, prior to the 9- 0 vote by the board to introduce the 1998 spending plan.

He said the $1.5 million was cut from the operating side of the budget in spending plans of the individual departments. In addition, due to a favorable economy, additional revenues were added into the budget, thus lessening the tax impact.

The county also saved money through early retirements by employees, under a package Mr. Lapolla described as a "revenue booster" for the county, reiterating the theme of "doing more with less."

Other initiatives covered in the $282.15 million budget include Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, a system used to analyze and manage geographic spatial data. This technology will be used in a number of applications, including business site development, development of transportation systems and wetlands and parkland conservancy.

The GIS program includes funding this year of $825,500.

The county also has launched an education initiative this year called "Access 2000," a program which provides matching county funds for the purchase of one computer for each one provided by the public schools county- wide.

The budget includes a matching grant program for an initiative called "Project Pocket Park." The program includes matching funds of up to $100,000 for land acquisition. Another $25,000 is available for the purchase of playground equipment and the upgrade of an existing playground.

The county budget includes $3 million for the acquisition of land for parks and another $1 million for the purchase of playground equipment.

An additional "Union Arts" program offers individual grants of up to $5,000 to artists, theater groups and preservationists.

After hearing the brief presentation of the budget by Freeholder Stender, Vice Chairman Nicholas P. Scutari called the $1.5 million cut from the Executive Budget submitted in January by Mr. Lapolla as an "extraordinary reduction."

He said county department heads have learned to "do a good job with

what they have" and "they have to do more with less" in the years ahead.

He said the county has been able to achieve tax levy decreases while maintaining services "by making government work smarter."

Freeholder Chester Holmes of Rahway, elected to the board this past November, said that despite the "substantial decrease" in the budget he was happy with the spending plan, noting that it contains "a very, very good level of services in the county" this year.

Freeholder Donald Goncalves of Elizabeth took one shot at Republicans who controlled the board from 1992 through 1996, noting that the GOP raised county taxes each of the five years they had the majority.

He said the budget process by the Democrats "shows we can really put our shoulder to the wheel" in an effort to cut spending while maintaining the current level of services.

In describing her experience as a "crash course" in county financing, Freeholder Ruotolo, of Westfield, who joined the board in late January, said she was "most impressed" by the "effort and the dedication of everyone involved in the process."

In effort to balance the budget, a total of $21.4 million in surplus funds was utilized, up from last year when $19.8 million was placed in the budget to offset appropriations and keep taxes down.

As part of the six- year capital plan, the 1998 budget includes $5 million for the purchase of land and design and architecture fees for a new juvenile detention facility for the county. Another $3 million has been budgeted for the rehabilitation of the existing Oak Ridge Golf Course Clubhouse building in Clark. The building is now listed as an historic landmark.

In the area of Parks and Recreation, the budget includes $150,000 this year, with projections for $350,000 in 1999, and $500,000 for the expansion of the Visitor Center at the Trailside Nature and Science Center and Park Commission Headquarters in Warinanco Park, with a total six- year estimate of $1 million.

Another $400,000 has been included for the design and construction of a running track facility building in Warinanco Park. In other business, the board authorized a one- year contract with Robert A. Roe Associates, Inc., of Wayne. The former Congressman will provide services to the county and the Elizabeth Development Company at $10,000 per month for a total of $120,000. The amount will be equally split between the county the development company.

A Freeholder resolution approving the contract noted that the ser vices of an expert on economic development

such as Mr. Roe are necessary in "identifying funding sources and prioritizing infrastructure and transportation projects" in the county.

Mr. Roe has also been retained to help "promote and support the individual and combined efforts" of the county and the development company for economic development in Union County and Elizabeth.

A Congressman from 1969 through 1992, Mr. Roe chaired the Public Works and Transportation Committee. Prior to his days in Congress, he served in New Jersey Governor Richard J. Hughes' Cabinet as Commissioner of Conservation and Economic Development.

The board also authorized an agreement with NJ Transit in conjunction with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to conduct a study for a transit link in the Newark International Airport/ Port Elizabeth/ Midtown Elizabeth to the Plainfield Corridor.

The county has been granted $300,000 in FTA funds and, according to the resolution, is required to provide a minimum of 20 percent in matching funds for the project.

County Immunization Center Ready for Awareness Program

With National Infant Immunization Awareness Week set to start this Sunday, April 19, and continue through Saturday, April 25, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is reminding residents of the availability of the county's Division of Social Services/ Runnells Specialized Hospital Immunization Center, located at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth.

"Our children need to be protected from diseases such as mumps and measles that can be potentially fatal, even though they are often not thought of as such," said Freeholder Deborah P. Scanlon, Freeholder Liaison to the Runnells Hospital Board of Managers.

"Childhood diseases can be prevented by getting the proper vaccinations, and any child who lives in Union County can get immunized at our center, free of charge. No appointment is necessary; parents or guardians should bring records of previous immunizations if available," said Freeholder Scanlon.

The Immunization Center is open Monday to Friday, 8 a. m. to 3: 30

p. m., according to Runnells' Kay Young, a Registered Nurse, who started working at the center last December.

"Approximately 1,500 vaccines have been administered to more than 550 clients during the last four months — just since December of last year," said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan.

"While applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) with a child under 5 years of age are automatically referred to the center for evaluation, the service is also available to any child from Union County who is in need of immunizations," he explained.

There are 10 potentially fatal diseases that children should be immunized against, according to a Runnells spokesman. These are measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), chickenpox, polio, hepatitis B, tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza type b.

According to the Federal Center for Disease Control (CDC), almost 30 percent of children under the age of 3 do not receive proper immunization. The 1996 New Jersey rate for children under two who are immunized for polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella was 78 percent, and 87 percent for hepatitis B.

The vaccines for the Union County Immunization Center are funded through the New Jersey Department of Health from the Federal Immunization Program of the CDC, United States Department of Health.

UCUA to Sponsor Classes On Backyard Composting

The Union County Utilities Authority (UCUA) will sponsor five backyard composting classes this spring that will be taught by Union County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Center Master Gardeners.

"Yard waste is not accepted at the Union County Resource Recovery Facility," added Dr. Joseph A. Spatola, UCUA Executive Director.

"Turning grass clippings and other yard waste material into compost returns nitrogen, a valuable nutrient for plants, to the soil," he advised.

The $10 registration fee for the class includes a free composting bin and the handbook, "Backyard Composting: Your Complete Guide to Recycling Yard Clippings."

The classes will be held today, Thursday, April 16, at Rutgers Cooperative Extension Center, 300 North Avenue, East, in Westfield; Wednesday, May 6, at the Linden Seventh Ward Recreation Center, 2907 Tremely Point Road in Linden, and Thursday, May 21, at the Springfield Municipal Building in the main meeting room, 100 Mountain Avenue.

Classes will also be held on Tuesday, May 26, at the Scotch Plains Municipal Building, 430 Park Avenue in Scotch Plains, and Tuesday, June 2, at the Elizabeth Racquetball Club, 23 Fernwood Terrace in Eliza beth. All classes will begin at 7 p. m.

Classroom space is limited and will be filled on a first- come, firstserve basis. Pre- registration is required. For further information or to register, please call (732) 382- 9400, Extension No. 41.

DEDICATED VOLUNTEER... Ernie Winter, 96, an active dedicated board member of the Westfield/ Mountainside Chapter of the American Red Cross for the past 35 years, was honored by the chapter at its 80th Anniversary Gala Dinner held at Plainfield Country Club on March 21. He also received a resolution from the chapter honoring his dedication to volunteerism for the past 35 years. Pictured, left to right, are: Dr. John Tabachnick, Chapter Chairman; Mr. Winter, with his award; George Gatesy, 80th Anniversary Chairman, and Dennis Kinsella, Board Advisor.